Another steering column question
The 71 FSM shows some type of "Retainer w/ seal" but does not really show what that may be. From the pic of my column, you can also see the little wire "spring clip" that goes around the outside of the column tube near the bottom. I don't see that in the FSM either except for the column-shift cars.
From the VIN of my 72 Demon (avatar), it was a factory 318 car. It does not have the fender tag nor do I have the build sheet for it. So I don't know if it was a floor shift or console shift car. And being it was a drag race car almost from the day it was born (and I'm the 3rd or 4th owner), there is no way for me to know if even the column is original to the car. But when I did the build on it, the floor pan appears to have the stamping features and holes for the floor shift console but those may have been there on all cars in case they were to get the console. But interestingly enough, the steering column has the lower plastic bushing that slides in the tube and has the spring and bullring around the shaft to hold that bushing up in the column tube.
You gotta just love working on these 50+ year old cars and trying to unearth how they were built or intended to work! It may just have to get cleaned/painted and go back together just like it came apart - without a lower support bearing or bushing. Or I may try one of those "split bushings" sold for this type of purpose.
Interesting that you say you've never seen one with a lower bearing. Appreciate that input. This car is an original Demon 340 with the console shift for the 727 and I do know this is the original column in the car. Yet it did not have any lower support bearing/bushing at all. It obviously has the upper bearing by the steering wheel but then it was just connected to the steering gear box via the standard coupler. So I wonder if it ever did come with any type of lower support bearing/bushing?
The 71 FSM shows some type of "Retainer w/ seal" but does not really show what that may be. From the pic of my column, you can also see the little wire "spring clip" that goes around the outside of the column tube near the bottom. I don't see that in the FSM either except for the column-shift cars.
From the VIN of my 72 Demon (avatar), it was a factory 318 car. It does not have the fender tag nor do I have the build sheet for it. So I don't know if it was a floor shift or console shift car. And being it was a drag race car almost from the day it was born (and I'm the 3rd or 4th owner), there is no way for me to know if even the column is original to the car. But when I did the build on it, the floor pan appears to have the stamping features and holes for the floor shift console but those may have been there on all cars in case they were to get the console. But interestingly enough, the steering column has the lower plastic bushing that slides in the tube and has the spring and bullring around the shaft to hold that bushing up in the column tube.
You gotta just love working on these 50+ year old cars and trying to unearth how they were built or intended to work! It may just have to get cleaned/painted and go back together just like it came apart - without a lower support bearing or bushing. Or I may try one of those "split bushings" sold for this type of purpose.
